University at Buffalo - Buffalonian Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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was added, as deinonstrator of anatomy. A description of these professors, given by Dr. C. C. Wyckoff, a member of the first class, is as follows: ff I wish I could present to you a graphic picture of these first seven professors as they appear to me in memory-the dignihed and serious Hadleys, father and son, the courtly Christian gentleman, Professor Coventry, whose innate modesty put him to the blush upon demonstrating his obstetrical lectures upon the manikin 5 the agile and oftentimes brilliant Hamilton, entering the amphitheatre almost on a run, lecturing as he came, and seeming only desirous of improving every moment to give us the beneht of his vast store of learning, the more dignihed Flint, who at the beginning of his career as a lecturer was somewhat inclined to verboseness, but who afterward attained an eminence in this branch of the profession as may make us justly proud of having given him to the world, the daring White, who raised such a storm of abuse, which he manfully met, when he introduced ' demonstrative midwifery 3 ' the companionable, convivial Webster, who was masterly at dissection, lecturing as rapidly as the scalpel cut into the tissues of the subject, never for a moment at a loss for words to explain the hidden course of nature. Oftentimes Dr. Ford would have to perform the duties of a lecturer as well as those of a demonstrator of anatomy, but it was at no loss to the students. Professor Lee was perhaps less known to us, as he always retained his home in New York, but his uniform kindness made him popular, although his subject was dry and prosy. There were 60 students in attendance the nrst year. On june 16, 1847, the hrst class of 17 men was graduated. The course of instruction and the faculty in the University of Buffalo in those days compared, as they have done since, favorably with those of the other leading medical colleges. Its seven professors and term of four months, with a preliminary term of one month, was about the same as that of Harvard, Yale, the University of New York and the University of Pennsylvania. Medical education was then very simple. Nor must it be forgotten that medical knowledge was limited and that what was known could be taught in much shorter time than is needed now. The preceptor system was also then in vogue, and a course of instruction in the medical school was only supposed to hnish up or polish off what was taught in the offices of the preceptors. How imperfect and inadequate this system of instruction was those of us who have seen it well know. At the opening of the fourth session-of the College, the first real step in advance was taken. A new and, as it was regarded at that time, perfect building for medical instruction was then opened for use. This building was built by subscription after a long and hard struggle. The original faculty continued to conduct the affairs of the now prosperous insti- tution without change until 1851, when Dr. john C. Dalton was made professor of physiology. The following year Dr. Edward M. Moore, of Rochester, took the chair of anatomy, but was changed to the chair of surgery on Dr. Hamilton's resignation. In 1852 Dr. Rochester took the chair of practice. About 1855, Drs. Flint, Hamilton and Dalton were called to New York, and there all of them, working upon the foundation which they had laid in Buffalo, achieved world-wide reputations. Their successors in the 29

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Buffalo school were men of equal attainments, and in no whit allowed the standard to tall. Dr. Moore remained in the chair of surgery for nearly 30 years, adding lustre equally to the College and to himself by his great achievements. Dr. Rochester con- tinued in the chair of practice for even a longer period, and was widely known, and loved by all who came in contact with him. In 1859 Dr. Austin Flint, Ir., took the chair of physiology, but retained it for only one year. He was succeeded by Dr. Wm. H. Mason, of Norwich, Conn. ln 1867 Dr. Julius F. Miner, a name which has always been held in high esteem by the alumni of this college, assumed the chair of special surgery. This he held until his sickness in 1882. This was the Hrst addition tothe faculty above the number of seven which had been made since its foundation, At the death of Dr. White, in 1881, a great change came to the College. The older men, soon after that, were supplanted by younger and, therefore, more energetic teach- ers. Dr. Matthew D. Mann, of Hartford, succeeded Dr. Whiteg Dr. R. A.Witthaus, of New York, took the chair of chemistry, and Dr. Roswell Park was brought from Chicago to take the chair of surgery. In 1880 Dr. Pohlman succeeded to the chair of physiology, and the following year Dr. Charles G. Stockton succeeded Dr. Rochester. The faculty at this time laid it down as a rule that henceforth all new appointees in the schools must be residents of Buffalo, and after the resignation of Dr. Stoddart, of Rochester, from the chair of materia medica, which he had held with distinguished 'honor for 15 years, this rule was carried out. Dr. Cary filled Dr. Stoddart's chair, being transferred from the chair of anatomy, which he had held since 1878, and Drs. john Parmenter and Herbert M. Hill lilled the chairs respectively in anatomy and chemistry. Thus, in the course of eight years, an entire change had taken place in the faculty. Not one of the chairs was nlled by its old incumbent, and the conduct of the school was entrusted to a young, energetic and progressive set of men. The result of this infusion of new blood was soon manifested. New courses of instruction were introduced, the adjunct faculty was largely added to, and in the course of a few years the corps of instructors was enlarged from the original seven so as to include nearly 50. In this way a great interest in the College was excited in the pro- fession , younger men were put in training for promotion, and the course of instruction was greatly enlarged and perfected. A new spirit seemed to enthuse all, and the progress of the College was very rapid. In 1890 it became quite evident that the old school was entirely inadequate for the needs of the institution. In 1891, therefore, the Council determined that a new building should be erected, and through the energy and untiring industry of one mem- ber of the faculty and of the Council, Dr. Charles Cary, a suflicient sum of money was obtained to Warrant the beginning of the erection of the new building. This was com- pleted at the cost of 3i150,000, and was iirst occupied on january 6, 1893. The faculty had long realized that the course of instruction was entirely inade- quate. The old building contained almost no laboratories, no recitation rooms, no con- veniences of any sort for anything more than didactic lectures. With the completion of the new building greater conveniences were added. It was thus made possible to 31